Wine and Cheese Parties

by Denise Vivaldo

This is one of my favorite types of cocktail parties: it's clear that you're only serving wine and cheese, so it's easier to stay on track; it can be held before or after the dinner hour; and it's a great excuse to try new cheeses and wines—and who doesn't love those? For those who can't help but add a bit more to the offerings, fruits and cured meats are natural accompaniments and are easy to pull together. See the menu below for a great way to host such a party, or develop your own menu based on your motivation to entertain or any new offerings at your favorite cheese shop.

As mentioned earlier, any offering of cheeses should represent a variety of flavors and textures, so offer something from each of the following categories: soft or semi-soft, blue and firm. See the chart for some surefire pairings, and read through the Cheese Glossary on page 164 of the book for more ideas.

As a general rule, soft cheeses and strongly flavored cheeses go best with whites; hard cheeses with a mild flavor go best with reds.

The fat in soft cheeses coats the inside of the mouth, somewhat masking the flavor of a wine.

Cheese, Wine and Fruit Pairings

Cheese

Wine

Fruit

Blue cheese, Roquefort

Strong reds

Apples, grapes, pears

Brie, Camembert

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, dry port

Plums, berries, apples

Colby

Port, sherry, Madeira, Burgundy

Melons, peaches, pears

Edam, Gouda, Cheddar

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Burgundy

Apples, grapes, pears

Goat cheese, chevre, feta

Chenin Blanc, Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé

Apples, pears, peaches

Gorgonzola

Sauternes, Champagne

Pears

Gruyère, provolone

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Beaujolais

Melons, peaches, pineapple

Monterey Jack

Chardonnay, cream sherry

Plums, strawberries, apples

Mozzarella

Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio

Melons, peaches, pineapple

Muenster

Beaujolais, Zinfandel, cream sherry

Melons, peaches, pineapple

Neufchatel, cream cheese

Champagne

Apples, grapes, pears

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Chianti, Burgundy

Figs, grapes, apples

Stilton

Port

Pears

Swiss, Emmentaler

Riesling, Gewürztraminer

Apples, grapes, pears

Wine and Cheese Tasting

This menu was designed with white wines in mind. To serve six people, purchase one bottle of Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, one bottle of Chenin Blanc, Fumé Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc, and one bottle of Gewürztraminer or Riesling. Take advantage of your local wine merchant's knowledge and ask for suggestions.

For an elegant end to the evening, serve small glasses of port with a little bite of Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton or another fine blue cheese.